By William Morris, Des Moines Register
A Des Moines man who was shot and injured after assaulting both a police officer and his mother has been sentenced to probation and faces likely deportation.
Jose Daniel Rodriguez-Sanchez, 19, was charged with assault and other offenses after the March 2025 encounter, that also injured a Des Moines officer. He later pleaded guilty to disarming a peace officer and willful injury causing bodily injury, both felonies.
A review by the Polk County Attorney’s Office found that officers responding to a call for service witnessed Rodriguez-Sanchez assaulting his mother and sought to detain him. When Senior Police Officer Chad Ruroden caught up to him, Rodriguez-Sanchez “charged at Ruroden and began to violently assault him,” inflicting head and neck injuries, prosecutors said. Ruroden shot and wounded Rodriguez-Sanchez, who kept fighting, and other officers used a stun gun and pepper spray to subdue him.
Rodriguez-Sanchez was hospitalized and later transferred to the Polk County Jail. The county attorney’s review found Ruroden’s actions justified.
Court records show Rodriguez-Sanchez pleaded guilty in November. On Monday, Jan. 12, the parties asked the court to sentence him to probation with the understanding that Rodriguez-Sanchez, a native of Honduras, will be transferred to federal immigration custody and likely deported.
Defense attorney Erin Carr said Rodriguez-Sanchez had mental health problems that contributed to the actions leading to his arrest, and for which he is now receiving medication.
The plea deal calls for five years’ probation, although Carr said that will only matter if Rodriguez-Sanchez ever returns to the United States, at which time the probation requirements would take effect.
Stay in the know with stories that matter — visit HolaAmericaNews.com for the latest news, culture, and community updates!
Facebook Comments